COLUMBUS: The Buckeyes ran for 221 yards and Devin Smith caught a pair of touchdown passes in Ohio State’s 37-17 victory over Colorado on Saturday to make a winner out of freshman quarterback Braxton Miller in his first game as the starter.

Miller took every snap until late in the fourth quarter on a day the Buckeyes stressed the running game, as expected. Miller was just 5 of 13 passing for 83 yards and two touchdowns, while Jordan Hall made his first start at tailback and had 84 yards and a touchdown.

Braxton Miller is expected to play Saturday against Miami, OSU coach Luke Fickell said today. Miller was banged up last week and missed some practice time before the Buckeyes played Toledo, but that’s not what prevented him from playing.

COLUMBUS: Ohio State survived an enormous scare when Toledo’s final drive stalled on the Buckeyes’ 16 yard line, allowing them to escape with a 27-22 victory on Saturday.

The Buckeyes haven’t lost to an in-state opponent in 90 years. That streak was in real jeopardy until the game’s final minute, when John Simon pressured Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens into an overthrow on fourth down, preserving the victory.